Anu Duggal

In a couple sentences, how would you describe your path to becoming an investor?

I began my tech career as a co-founder of Exclusively.in, a private sale e-commerce company backed by Accel & Tiger which was acquired by Myntra. What stood out most for me about that experience was how difficult it was to raise capital as a woman. I built Female Founders Fund to prove that investing in women generates superior returns.

Investment Approach: What are the key factors you consider when evaluating a founding team?

The most important factors that I look for in a founder are hunger, adaptability and grit.

What's your style and approach when it comes to working with founders post-investment? What are the characteristics of founders you've worked well with?

I put in a tremendous amount of energy into supporting our founders post investment. Their success is our success, and I roll up my sleeves making introductions, providing tactical guidance and serving as a friend and emotional support during an oftentimes draining journey. While I’ve worked well with many different types of founders, the most successful founders have all been open to feedback and are able to adapt quickly to ever changing circumstances.

If I'm coming to pitch to you or your firm, what's the one piece of advice you'd give me?

Perfect your ability to sell as the founder’s journey is one of sales - selling your ideas to VC's, employees and ultimately you consumers.

How would you describe your own personal mission and values, and how do they impact the way you invest?

I care deeply about equality, empathy and excellence and bring those values into everything that we do at Female Founders Fund. We are committed to increasing diversity in the VC ecosystem.

What do you like best about investing in NYC, and what’s your outlook on the future of NYC tech?

The best thing about investing in NYC is how collaborative the VC ecosystem is here. In New York, an estimated 5% of VC funding has gone to companies founded solely by women compared to less than 2% in San Francisco. Female Founders Fund is proud to call NYC home.

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